Bemiss Meeting Will Advise Residents About Dump Cleanup
Environmental officials charged with cleaning up a toxic waste dump across from Bemiss Elementary are holding a neighborhood meeting on the project next week.
The open house and informational session is to inform those living near the former junkyard at 3322 N. Cook about the status of the investigation and cleanup.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declared the 10.5-acre Spokane Junkyard/ Associated Properties site a priority for cleanup after a fire consumed the land in 1987.
The fire released toxic fumes that made four firefighters ill. Afterward, the EPA hauled away 140 drums of hazardous waste, including polychlorinated biplenyls (PCBs) and 140 cubic yards of asbestos.
Further investigation found soil contaminated with elevated levels of mercury, cadmium and lead.
In December, the government filed a lawsuit against the city of Spokane for its liability in dumping at the site.
Spokane’s potential liability goes back more than 30 years when it disposed of old water pipes, traffic signals and fire hydrants at the Spokane Metals Co. A dozen other agencies or firms, including Washington Water Power, Kaiser Aluminum, Sunshine Mining, Bonneville Power, and the Navy may ultimately have to pay some cleanup costs, which could run $5 to $8 million.
The EPA has already removed 8,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil at a cost of $2.8 million.
The site has been closed for years and is now fenced off, although it remains a public health hazard.
EPA officials hope to begin work this summer.
Next week’s meeting is another opportunity for the public to review preliminary cleanup plans and the agency’s timeline.
xxxx Open house The open house begins at 4 p.m. in the multipurpose room at Bemiss Elementary, 2323 E. Bridgeport. The informational session follows at 7 p.m. Monday. Those unable to attend can arrange for an individual interview by calling Jean Baker, EPA community relations coordinator, at 1-800-424-4372.